Jamie Boullt

JB: Huntington Beach, California. I have lived in Alabama on and off since 2002.

GS: What degree will you receive and when?

JB: I received a B.A. in Art History in 2008. I am currently working on an M.A. in Art History. My anticipated graduation is August 2010.

GS: How long have you been at UAB?

JB: I transferred in Spring 2007 and finished my B.A. in art history in May 2008. Started the M.A. program in Fall 2008.

GS: What is your research?

JB: My specialty fields are Renaissance, Baroque, and 20th-century art, but my main research is in the Spanish Renaissance. I am writing my thesis on a Spanish art collector, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, whose collection has not been studied before. He was a diplomat and was an integral part of the Council of Trent, but he has not yet been studied outside of his political and literary accomplishments. I will be examining his art collection and its relevance to the collection of material goods in the Renaissance.

GS: What made you choose UAB for your graduate studies?

JB: I really enjoyed the undergraduate program. The professors are always willing to help and you can really get one-on-one with them. I decided to stick around and work with them more.

GS: Have you received any awards or honors?

JB: I received both a Graduate Assistantship in Art History as well as the Klaus Urban Departmental Scholarship for this year (2009-2010). I was also chosen to speak at the 2008-2009 Graduate Symposium in Art History. Hopefully I will get to speak again at the symposium this year! As an undergrad, I graduated cum laude and I received 3rd place in my session at this year’s Graduate Student Research Days.

GS: What has been your most rewarding experience at UAB?

JB: Working as a Graduate Assistant I have been able to work in all aspects of the art history department. My ultimate goal is to obtain a PhD and teach at a university level and the assistantship has allowed me to get a lot of teaching experience.

GS: Who was your greatest influence here at UAB and why?

JB: Dr. Katherine McIver, who is my thesis advisor. Her fields are Renaissance and Baroque [art] so I have worked with her the most. She has been great at pushing me to get involved in the department and, as a result, I have been able to gain a great deal of experience in the field.

GS: What is your motivation in your academics/research?

JB: I really love researching and the discovery of something new. The drive to keep finding something that no one else has studied before is very motivating.

GS: What are your plans after graduating and for the future?

JB: Hopefully I can get into a PhD program, but I would like to work for a year or so and pay down my student loans a bit first, to be honest. I would ideally love to teach but as long as I get to keep researching in the field then I will be happy.

GS: Is there anything else you would like to say?

JB: Just a big thank you for all of the opportunities I have had while at UAB. I have heard horror stories from people in art history programs at other schools and I don’t think I would have had the chances I have had it not been for the people working in the department here.

Jamie’s advice for other graduate students:

If you really want to do something then just do it; don’t listen to what other people say. When I told people I was going to school for art history they usually suggested a vocational trade instead, saying that it was more useful. I knew I wouldn’t be happy doing that though. If you love it then it is worth it.

Ethics for Authors

The UAB Ethics for Authors website explores ethical issues for students, researchers and faculty writing for publication. The site includes FAQs on citing and writing for research, e-tools and activities, and several handouts.